Hunting: How to Get Started — Introduction

Are you interested in hunting, but not sure where to start? In the next few blog posts, we’ll outline some steps to get started and simplify the process. Because it’s such a good starting point, we’re going to explain the requirements of a squirrel hunt that you can do before the end of the season. Squirrels are a manageable size, they have excellent meat and you only need a basic hunting license to hunt them. In later posts, we’ll explain what firearm to use, how to choose where you hunt, how to clean a squirrel, and give you a recipe you can use with your harvested squirrel meat.

Squirrels are small game, and small game season is open until February 29, 2016. Deer season is over, and turkey season doesn’t start until late March, but there’s still time to get out in the field and hunt squirrel!

If you don’t get a chance to go small game hunting before the season is up, that’s okay. We’ll also have posts about what you can do between hunting seasons to hone important skills, as well as information about hunting turkey.

Ask yourself why you want to hunt. Do you want to feel a greater part of the nature that surrounds us? Do you want to provide high-quality food for yourself or your family and feel the joy that comes from living off the land? Do you want to take part in a sport that brings millions of people together all over the country? There are many reasons to start hunting. Take a minute to figure out what you want to get out of the experience.

Squirrel Biology

Learn about your target game animal’s biology. It will help you when you’re in the field.

Gray squirrel are common. They are usually found in hardwood or mixed hardwood and pine forests. They are not usually found in dense pine forests. Stands of hardwoods make for good squirrel habitat in part because many of these trees are good mast producers. Mast refers to the nuts produced by woody plants and consumed by wildlife. An oak tree, for example, is a mast producer because it drops acorns.

Like many game animals, their major activity time is in the morning and the late afternoon. Though they will be out and about during the day, too, they will not be as active and prevalent.

Look for big leafy squirrel nests in trees. These are a good indicator that squirrels are in the area. Note that it is illegal to shoot into a nest.

Hunting Community

Most people get involved in the sport of hunting through family and friends who guide them through the process.

If you’re going to hunt small game before the end of the season, the guidance of a hunting mentor will be invaluable. If you can, reach out to an experienced hunter and see if they can mentor you. Depending on the hunter, they may also be able to let you use some of their equipment. Don’t be afraid to reach out. Hunters are generally passionate about hunting, and many would love the opportunity to share this experience with someone else.

You may also consider joining a hunting club. Joining a non-governmental organization (NGO) that relates to game (such as the National Wild Turkey Federation) is another way to get involved in the hunting community.

At WRD, we have Hunter Education Field Days that help supplement the teaching provided by Hunter Education courses, and Hunt and Learn programs that provide hands-on learning for young novice hunters (ages 10-17).

Conclusion

If you’re ready to learn how to hunt, you will need to commit time to it. You’ll need to, hopefully, find an experienced hunter who can help you through the process and start searching in your area for ways to get involved in the hunting community. You’ll need to set aside the time, energy and money over the next couple of weeks to take Hunter Education (can be done online), get a hunting license (can be done online/by phone), get equipment, practice, and learn the land you can hunt on.

We’ll guide you through these steps, starting tomorrow with the license and materials you will need to get started.